Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-06-28
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND AND
THE SOLDIERS.
Editor Democrat :

Editor Democrat
Perhaps Pftsiden, Cleveland has been
more unfortunate In bis relations with
the soldiers than might have been ex.
ptc,cj. even Of Democratic President.
OF course be could no, have ths, sympa.
thy for them which has been character
i.,ie of his predecessors since the the war.
for al Of these were Ia active service
during the rebellion. OF course be could
no, ,nlsr into ,tsir political aspirations.
for be /. DsmocrAi. Ba, somehow he
has managed TO secure the i'll will Of the
whole body % citizen soldiers Of Ameri-
ca. We e.nno, tell what sentiments are
in bis lesrt. bu, hostility i, sp, to beg,,
agoni.m. and such snisgoni.m As has
been excited toward our Presiden, would
Indicate iha, b. mus, be full Of ho,iil-
i,y toward the toys In blue.
The soldier vote. which has long been
eonsidsied potent factor in political AZ
f.ir, is yearly grosing smaller. Young
men Who were boy. when the soldiers
fought. nov constitute majority Of our
voters. and The soldier vote need no
loager be eoneiliaisd for political purposes.
Those Ia authority seem 10 feel that
therefore they may give voice TO the sem
iimenis which fill thei, hearts.
The Presidents veto Of the dependent
pen,lOn bill. created profound sen,imen,
Of di.gu., In the mind. Of large body
ofsoldier,; however. we can but commend
that veto. |, seem. a. II there must be
a limi, TO the resources Of our government,
and to it, generosity ia this direction.
PIesideh, Cleveland mAnfully pa, up the
bars. but the correctness Of bis position in
ihi, case dil no; tend to soften the hard
feeling, whish were created 10 the minds
Of ,hoae who expected TO proh, by the
bill Hut the same eommendAiion can-
no, be passed upon hi, ,e,oes Of the 'pe-
ei.l pension acts. These cases were pre-.
seated TO him by Congress as represent
irg worthy. unfortunate soldiers who
were unable 20 secure pensions under the
.rie, rules necessary for iraasaeiins bus.
ines. At the pension department. Asa
matter Of charity he should have given
them his signature. However. he cav
Il. to exercise hi. veto power. and in
some cases grea, hardship resulted there
from. Further. he did not give their
case the careful consideration which their
importance demanded. lie practically
acknowledged this. when one peculiarly
case was more particularly
pressed upon bis attention.
And now come. fnAl act which has
aliena,ed the better element among the
soldiers. Those who did no, favor the
dspenden, pension bill. and those who
excused The special ye,oes on various
grounds. now join with Others in Goa.
demnins the Pre,idsa,'. course aud even
question III. patriotism. We refer 10 bis
sanction Of Adja,Ani General Drums pro.
po.al 10 return 10 the Southern States tie |
flag. captured from their
fences. |, was a Singular proposition. TO
star, with. and why !, was suggested
pa,se,h knowledge. No possible good
could be gained by turning these relics
ofs dead Confederaey. over 10 the sever
Al State. They are peculiarly the prop
rriy Of the general government. l, was
,hi. government which crushed the Con.
which a, one time promised TO
lake place among the nations Of the
rArih. II is true ,hs, this Contederaey
vas composed OF residents Of certain
States; but when these men took the
,6,h of allegiance TO our government, they
Torsook the a.g which had been raised
Is an ensign of,he TO be new nation.
They now can have no interest In the
lag', other than ihA, felt by all citizens
Alike =. they rejoice ,hs, rival. which
our very existence. has been
defeated. What. then, Is more appro-
,ria,e than that these flags and other
rophis. should be preserved =, the Capitol
n wa.hins,on' Pre.idsn, Cleveland
lid no, deliberate As be should have done
,efore asserting 10 their removal. lie
title looked for the storm which buri
or,h when this action Was made public.
He has succeeded 10 jas,ifyins some OF
he expressions 80 in,uliingly cas-, a, him
~ the Grand Army Of Illinois. aud be
las shown himself TO be less thought
al man than many have credited him
si,h being. IL is humila,ing TO ind
,ur President eaneellins an order which
las once been made pablie. on account
4 bur, Of popular indignation. when
little inquiry or hear, In sympathy
With the people would have prevented
u issuance. Cleveland has been called
strong man. but this eonduc, shows
lin to be very weak or ,hough,le''.
Ak ELEVATOR BELL A. Az AIN TO
, ,....,,. ,.r.;v.d q hint xesterlav